320 Geological Society. 



Tho fjuostion of the affinities of tho group, somewhat obscurely 

 set forth, is disappointing. No allowance seems to have been made 

 for homoplastic characters, and as a consequence much has been 

 allowed to rank as evidence that should have been eliminated 

 as of no value when questions of kinship are concerned. 



But, in spite of the drawbacks which we liave pointed out, Prof. 

 Seeley's book is extremely interesting, and one which is bound 

 to command a large number of readers. 



The work is profusely illustrated, for the most part with original 

 drawings. Apart from the illustrations, to which we have already 

 referred, we must take exception to figs. 17 and 18, neither of 

 which is anything more than approximately correct, to say the 

 least. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



November 6th, 1901.— J. J. H. Teall, Esq., M.A., V.P.R.S., 

 President, in the Chair. 



The following communication was read : — 



'On tho Clarke Collection of Fossil Plants from New South 

 Wales.' By Edward Alexander NeweU Arber, Esq., B.A. 



This collection, numbering nearly 2(iOO specimens of all kinds, 

 including some 80 fossil plant-remains, was presented to the Wood- 

 wardian Museum, Cambridge, in November 1814. 



The following is the stratigraphical succession in New South 

 Wales: — 



4. Wianamatta & Hawkesbury Beds. 

 3. Newcastle Beds. 



ic. Upper Marine Beds. 

 b. Lower Coal- Measures. 

 a. Lower Marine Beds. 

 1. Lepidodendron-heds (Arowa &c.). 



Four species from the Wianamatta Series are described, fourteen 

 species (including one new one) from the Newcastle Series, and two 

 from the Arowa Beds. Of the twelve new types described by 

 McCoy *, five (namely, OdonKypte.ris microphi/Un, Sphenopter'is plu- 

 mosa, Glossopteris litiearix, Phyllotheca ramosa, and Ph. UooJceri) are 

 no longer considered as such. One new type has been added. 



The age of the beds is then discussed. Such evidence as the few 

 plants in the Clarke Collection afford, supports Feistmantel's con- 

 clusion that the Wianamatta Beds are of Triassic age. Thinnfeldia 

 odontopteroides occurs in Rha^tic Beds in South America, and the 

 identification of llattoe's Salisburia palmata with the American 

 Baiera midtifida, and a comparison with the Rhaitic liaiera Stein- 

 manni of Chile, is a new point in favour of this conclusion. The 

 plants also support Feistmantel's opinion that the Newcastle Beds 

 are equivalent to tho Permian of Europe. The exact horizon and 

 age of the Arowa Beds must for the present remain doubtful. 



* Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. xx. 1847. 



